EP2621436B1 - Absorbent article - Google Patents

Absorbent article Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2621436B1
EP2621436B1 EP11829403.2A EP11829403A EP2621436B1 EP 2621436 B1 EP2621436 B1 EP 2621436B1 EP 11829403 A EP11829403 A EP 11829403A EP 2621436 B1 EP2621436 B1 EP 2621436B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
absorbent article
absorbent
indentations
top sheet
layer
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP11829403.2A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2621436A4 (en
EP2621436A1 (en
Inventor
Nobuyuki Kato
Tatsuya Tamura
Toshihisa Hayashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Unicharm Corp
Original Assignee
Unicharm Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Unicharm Corp filed Critical Unicharm Corp
Publication of EP2621436A1 publication Critical patent/EP2621436A1/en
Publication of EP2621436A4 publication Critical patent/EP2621436A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2621436B1 publication Critical patent/EP2621436B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
    • A61F13/538—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium characterised by specific fibre orientation or weave
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/15577—Apparatus or processes for manufacturing
    • A61F13/15617—Making absorbent pads from fibres or pulverulent material with or without treatment of the fibres
    • A61F13/15634—Making fibrous pads between sheets or webs
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/47—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins
    • A61F13/4704—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins having preferential bending zones, e.g. fold lines or grooves
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/47—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins
    • A61F13/472—Sanitary towels, incontinence pads or napkins specially adapted for female use
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/45—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the shape
    • A61F13/49—Absorbent articles specially adapted to be worn around the waist, e.g. diapers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
    • A61F13/534—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
    • A61F13/534—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad
    • A61F13/535—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes
    • A61F13/536—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium having an inhomogeneous composition through the thickness of the pad inhomogeneous in the plane of the pad, e.g. core absorbent layers being of different sizes having discontinuous areas of compression
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/15—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators
    • A61F13/53—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium
    • A61F13/539—Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators characterised by the absorbing medium characterised by the connection of the absorbent layers with each other or with the outer layers

Definitions

  • the present invention (disclosure) relates to an absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner, incontinence pad or incontinence liner, and more particularly, to a thin absorbent article.
  • Absorbent articles are generally required to be as thin as possible in order to prevent a sweltering sensation when worn, especially if used in environments at high temperatures.
  • absorbent articles are known in the prior art which have an absorbent layer composed of an airlaid non-woven fabric, with a plurality of indentations, formed by embossing, that extend from a surface layer of the absorbent article to the absorbent layer (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
  • Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-291234
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an absorbent article in which a plurality of indentations are formed by embossing extending from a surface sheet to an absorbent, in which the absorbent of the absorbent article is resistant to twisting even after long-term use and has favorable cushioning with respect to the skin of the wearer.
  • the present invention employs the following configuration to solve the aforementioned problems.
  • the present invention is an absorbent article provided with a liquid-permeable top sheet, a liquid-impermeable back sheet provided at a location opposing the top sheet, an absorbent provided between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a side sheet provided on each side of the top sheet in the widthwise direction having an area that overlaps the top sheet and the absorbent, wherein the absorbent contains an airlaid layer, formed by joining fibers with a binder, and a crushed pulp layer, the crushed pulp layer is provided on the top sheet side of the absorbent, the airlaid layer is provided on the back sheet side of the absorbent, and the absorbent article has a plurality of compressed pin shaped indentations extending through the side sheet, the top sheet and into the absorbent in the thickness direction and a plurality of compressed pin shaped indentations extending through the top sheet into the absorbent in the thickness direction by pin embossing.
  • top sheet is used in its normal sense in this art to mean the permeable layer on top of the absorbent, however it need not be the top most layer over the total article, for example the side sheets may be on top of the top sheet where they overlap the top sheet.
  • an absorbent article in which the absorbent is resistant to twisting even when the absorbent article is worn for a long period of time, and which has favorable cushioning with respect to the skin of the wearer.
  • the absorbent article of an embodiment of the present invention is a thin sanitary napkin.
  • FIG. 1 is a drawing explaining an absorbent article of an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1(a) is an overhead view of an absorbent article in an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1(a) .
  • An absorbent article 1 in an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a liquid-permeable top sheet 10, a liquid-impermeable back sheet 20 opposite to the top sheet 10, an absorbent 30 provided between the top sheet 10 and the back sheet 20, and side sheets 40 which are provided on both sides of the top sheet 10 in the widthwise direction which protrude in the widthwise direction (denoted by arrow X in Fig. 1 ).
  • the side sheets 40 illustrated have central wing portions extending in the widthwise direction, but in some embodiments these may not be required.
  • a pressure-sensitive adhesive portion 50 may be provided on an outer surface (garment-facing side) of the back sheet 20, i.e., the side opposite from the skin-facing side of the back sheet 20 that opposes the top sheet 10.
  • the absorbent 30 contains an airlaid layer 32, which may be formed by joining fibers with a binder, and a crushed pulp layer 34.
  • the airlaid layer is provided on the back sheet side (or garment-facing side) of the absorbent 30, while the crushed pulp layer 34 is provided on the top sheet side (or skin-facing side) of the absorbent 30.
  • the top sheet 10 and the absorbent 30 have a plurality of indentations 60 and 70 extending from the top sheet 10 through the crushed pulp layer 34 and into the airlaid layer 32 of the absorbent 30. These may be formed by compressing in the thickness direction by pin embossing. Pin embossing means embossing that is carried out by using pins provided in a roller.
  • the top sheet 10, the side sheet 40 and the absorbent 30 overlap in the lateral areas of the absorbent article 1, i.e., within the range of denoted by reference symbols 42 of FIG. 1 .
  • a plurality of indentations 71 in the lateral areas of the range of reference symbols 42 are indentations that extend through the side sheets 40 and top sheet 10, through the crushed pulp layer 34 to the airlaid layer 32 of the absorbent 30.
  • the indentations 71 are similar to the indentations 70.
  • top sheet 10 could be placed on top of the side sheets 40.
  • the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1 is the direction of the x axis, while the lengthwise direction is the direction of the y axis.
  • the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1 is the direction of the x axis and the lengthwise direction is the direction of the y axis in FIGs. 2 , 5 , 6 .
  • the top sheet 10 is a sheet that contacts the skin of a wearer when the absorbent article is worn.
  • a non-woven fabric is mainly used for the top sheet 10
  • materials of the top sheet 10 provided that it is a sheet that allows liquid to pass through.
  • a woven fabric, plastic sheet or mesh sheet may also be used for the top sheet 10.
  • a natural fiber or chemical fiber can be used for the non-woven fabric used in the top sheet 10.
  • natural fibers used in the top sheet 10 include cellulose fibers such as crushed pulp or cotton.
  • Examples of chemical fibers used in the top sheet 10 include regenerated cellulose fibers such as rayon or fibril rayon, semi-synthetic cellulose fibers such as acetate or triacetate, thermoplastic hydrophobic fibers, and thermoplastic hydrophilic fibers subjected to hydrophilic treatment.
  • thermoplastic hydrophobic fibers include monofilaments such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and composite fibers such as fibers obtained by graft polymerization of polyethylene and polypropylene and fibers having a core-sheath structure.
  • a dry method (such as a carding, spun bonding, melt blowing or air laying) or a wet method can be used to produce the non-woven fabric used in the top sheet 10. Both a wet method and a dry method may also be combined.
  • the non-woven fabric used in the top sheet 10 may also be produced using a method such as thermal bonding, needle punching or chemical bonding.
  • the method used to produce the non-woven fabric is not limited to the above methods, and may be produced by other methods as well.
  • Spun lace formed into the shape of a sheet by hydroentangling can also be used for the non-woven fabric used in the top sheet 10.
  • a non-woven fabric having surface irregularities in the upper layer thereof, or a corrugated non-woven fabric in which fabric weight unevenness is provided in the non-woven fabric by applying air during web formation can also be used for the non-woven fabric used in the top sheet 10.
  • dispersion of liquid over the surface of the top sheet 10 can be reduced before liquid passes through the top sheet 10.
  • the back sheet 20 is a sheet for inhibiting leakage of liquid absorbed with the absorbent 30 from the wearer to the outside.
  • a film composed mainly of polyethylene or polypropylene and the like, a porous resin film, or a sheet obtained by joining a porous resin film to a non-woven fabric such as spun bonded fabric or spun lace can be used for the back sheet 20.
  • the back sheet 20 preferably has flexibility to a degree that does not cause discomfort to the wearer when worn.
  • the absorbent 30 extends to both ends of the absorbent article 1 in the lengthwise direction in some embodiments. In Further embodiments, the absorbent 30 is not required to reach both ends of the absorbent article 1 in the lengthwise direction.
  • the airlaid layer 32 of the absorbent 30 is composed of an airlaid non-woven fabric.
  • the airlaid non-woven fabric is produced by, for example, dispersing a mixture of hydrophilic fibers and thermoplastic resin fibers in air, passing through a screen having a metal mesh and pores, dropping onto a wire traveling there below, spraying with a water-soluble binder, and carrying out heat treatment to heat-seal the thermoplastic resin fibers with the hydrophilic fibers.
  • the surfaces of the thermoplastic resin fibers may also be adhered to the hydrophilic fibers followed by heat-sealing the thermoplastic resin fibers with the hydrophilic fibers without using a water-soluble binder.
  • the surface of the thermoplastic resin fibers serves as a binder that heat-seals the thermoplastic resin fibers to the hydrophilic fibers.
  • a non-woven fabric obtained by spraying pulp serving as hydrophilic fibers and composite thermoplastic fibers (2.2 dtex, fiber length: 5 mm), comprising a core consisting of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and a sheath consisting of PE (polyethylene), with a vinyl alcohol-based emulsion adhesive followed by adhering by heat treatment, can be used for the airlaid non-woven fabric.
  • thermoplastic resin fibers comprising PP (polypropylene) for the core and PE for the sheath, or monofilaments of PE, PP or PET, can be used for the heat-sealable thermoplastic resin fibers.
  • the crushed pulp layer 34 of the absorbent 30 is a layer mainly containing crushed pulp or a layer composed exclusively of crushed pulp.
  • the crushed pulp is produced by crushing a pulp sheet with a crushing machine.
  • the crushed pulp is not joined together with an adhesive and the like.
  • the crushed pulp layer 34 may be joined to the airlaid layer 32 by a hot melt adhesive.
  • the absorbent 30 may also have another layer between the airlaid layer 32 and the crushed pulp layer 34.
  • the absorbent 30 may also have another layer on the back sheet side (or garment-facing side) of the airlaid layer 32 opposite from the crushed pulp layer 34.
  • the absorbent 30 can be formed to have favorable cushioning and durability, the crushed pulp layer 34 providing a particularly good cushioning effect close to the wearer with the airlaid layer 32 being less easy to twist.
  • the top sheet 10 is joined to the absorbent 30 using, for example, a hot melt adhesive.
  • coating patterns of the hot melt adhesive on the top sheet 10 or the absorbent 30 include a parallel line pattern in which parallel lines extending in the lengthwise direction are arranged in parallel at prescribed intervals in the widthwise direction, a band pattern in which bands extending in the lengthwise direction are arranged in parallel in the widthwise direction, a wavy pattern in which wavy lines having an amplitude in the widthwise direction and extending in the lengthwise direction are arranged in parallel in the widthwise direction, or a spiral pattern in which spirals extending in the lengthwise direction are arranged in the widthwise direction.
  • the coated basis weight of the adhesive is preferably 1 to 10 g/m 2 .
  • the side sheets 40 inhibit leakage of liquid flowing from a wearer to the outside in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1.
  • a material similar to that of the back sheet 20 is used for the side sheet 40.
  • the material of the side sheet 40 is preferably hydrophobic or water-repellent.
  • a spun bond non-woven fabric or spunbond/meltblown/spundbond (SMS) non-woven fabric, for example, can be used for the side sheets 40. Since the side sheets 40 contact the skin of the wearer, an air-through non-woven fabric is preferably used.
  • the peripheral edges of the top sheet 10, the back sheet 20 and the side sheet 40 may be joined by using a method such as heat embossing, ultrasonic processing or hot melt adhesive or a combination thereof.
  • the indentations 60 and 70 formed in the top sheet 10 and the absorbent 30, as well as the indentations 70 formed in the top sheet 10, the absorbent 30 and the side sheet 40, can be formed by pin embossing as previously described.
  • the indentations 60 and 70 are arranged in a staggered pattern.
  • the shape of the openings of the indentations 60 and 70 in the planar direction i.e., in plan view
  • the openings of the indentations may have two or more different shapes in the planar direction.
  • rigidity and thickness of the absorbent 30 of the absorbent article 1, in which indentations are formed by embossing may be further controlled.
  • the shape of the openings in the planar direction in a central portion of an absorbent article may be square, while the shape of indentations in the planar direction of a peripheral portion of the absorbent article may be circular.
  • the shape of the indentations of the absorbent article is not limited to being square or circular, but may be any shape, e.g., a polygon such as a rectangle or triangle, or a star, oval.
  • the diameter of an indentation in plan view is defined herein as the diameter of the smallest circle that completely contains the indentations, in plan view, at the surface.
  • the indentations of a single absorber may have at least two different sizes in the planar direction and/or at least two different shapes in the planar direction.
  • the distance in the planar direction (xy direction) between two adjacent indentations 60 or 70 is preferably between 3 to 20 mm. If the distance in the planar direction between the two adjacent indentations 60 or 70 is less than 3 mm, cushioning of the absorbent article 1 may be weakened and the absorbent article 1 may become hard. If the distance in the planar direction between the two adjacent indentations 60 or 70 exceeds 20 mm, the crushed pulp easily becomes unevenly distributed between the indentations 60 and 70, and may result in twisting of the absorbent 30. In addition, since the contact surface area of the absorbent article 1 with the skin of a wearer increases, the wearer may experience a sensation of stickiness from the absorbent article 1 when the absorbent 30 has absorbed a liquid.
  • the diameter in the planar direction of the indentations 60 and 70 is preferably from 0.5 to 6.0 mm. If the diameter in the planar direction of the indentations 60 and 70 is less than 0.5 mm, the crushed pulp layer 34 may be prevented from being adequately fixed to the airlaid layer 32 by the indentations 60 and 70, thereby the prevention of twisting of the absorbent of the absorbent article 1 may not be achievable. If the diameter in the planar direction of the indentations 60 and 70 exceeds 6.0 mm, the size of the rigid portion that contacts the skin increases, which may cause a wearer to experience a hard sensation when body pressure is applied to the absorbent article 1.
  • the ratio of the total surface area of all indentations 60 and 70 in plan view is preferably 3 to 30% and more preferably 5 to 10% based on the total surface area of the absorbent article 1 in the planar direction.
  • the width of the area of the absorbent article 1 where the indentations 60 and 70 are formed is narrower roughly in or in the center in the lengthwise direction.
  • the side sheets 40 have indentations 71 formed by compressing the top sheet 10, the side sheets 40 and the absorbent 30 in the thickness direction in the vicinity of the ends of the areas 42 in the lengthwise direction that overlap the top sheet 10 and the absorbent 30.
  • the indentations 60 and 70 provided in the absorbent article 1 have two different sizes in the planar direction.
  • the size in the planar direction of the indentations 60 in a central portion of the absorbent article 1 in an area roughly in or in the center in the lengthwise and widthwise directions is preferably larger than the size in the planar direction of the indentations 70 located in a peripheral portion around the central portion.
  • the number of indentations 60 per unit surface area in the central portion of the absorbent article 1 is preferably less than the number of indentations 70 per unit surface area in the peripheral portion around the central portion.
  • FIG. 2(a) is an overhead view of the indentations 60 in the central portion of the absorbent article 1, while FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2(a) .
  • the indentations 60 in the central portion of the absorbent article 1 includes portions 62 which are compressed more than less compressed portions 64 and thus portions 62 have a greater depth in the thickness direction.
  • Four more compressed portions 62 are provided in the single indentations 60.
  • the shape in the planar direction of the more compressed portions 62 is circular.
  • more compressed portions 62 and less compressed portions 64 may also be provided in the indentations 70 and 71 of the peripheral portion of the absorbent article 1.
  • the shape in the planar direction of the more compressed portions 62 is not limited to being circular, but may be any shape, e.g., a polygon such as a quadrangle or rectangle, or a star, etc.
  • the number of more compressed portions 62 provided in a single indentation is not limited to four, but may be 1, 2, 3 or 5 or more.
  • top sheet 10 is present in the bottom portions of the indentations 60 of the central portion of the absorbent article 1, the top sheet 10 in some embodiments is not required to be present in the bottoms of some or all of the indentations 60. In addition, the top sheet 10 in some embodiments is also not required to be present in the bottom portions of some or all of the indentations 70 of the peripheral portion of the absorbent article 1.
  • the pressure-sensitive adhesive portion 50 is a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer for fixing the absorbent article 1 to an undergarment such as underpants that contacts the garment-facing side of the back sheet 20.
  • the pressure-sensitive adhesive portion 50 is formed by coating a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the surface of the back sheet 20 contacted by the skin, or by coating a pressure-sensitive adhesive onto a packaging sheet for which the entire surface thereof has been subjected to release treatment, followed by transferring the coated pressure-sensitive adhesive onto the surface of the back sheet 20 contacted by the skin.
  • the shape in the planar direction of the pressure-sensitive portion 50 is that of a rectangle that extends in the lengthwise direction of the absorbent article 1.
  • the pressure-sensitive adhesive portion is arranged in rows in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article 1.
  • the surface of the pressure-sensitive portion 50 is covered with a release sheet not shown prior to use of the absorbent article 1.
  • Examples of the pressure-sensitive adhesive for forming the pressure-sensitive portion 50 include thermoplastic polymers such as a styrene-based block polymer, natural resin-based or synthetic resin-based adhesion-imparting resins, and plastic materials such as paraffin-based oils.
  • styrene-based block polymers used for the pressure-sensitive portion 50 include styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS) block copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer, styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS) block copolymer and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS) block copolymer.
  • SEBS styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene
  • SBS styrene-butadiene-styrene
  • SIS styrene-isoprene-styrene
  • SEPS styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene
  • Examples of natural resin-based adhesion-imparting resins include terpene-based resins such as copolymers of ⁇ -pinene, ⁇ -pinene or dipentene, rosin-based resins such as gum rosin, tall oil rosin or wood rosin, and hydrogenation products or esters thereof.
  • examples of synthetic resin-based adhesion-imparting resins include aliphatic (C5) petroleum resins, aromatic (C9) petroleum resins, copolymer-based petroleum resins, hydrogenated petroleum resins, DCPD-based petroleum resins and pure monomer-based petroleum resins.
  • examples of plastic materials include paraffin oils that decrease viscosity, naphthene oils that increase tackiness, and aromatic oils that decrease cohesion or impart color or odor.
  • the coated basis weight of the pressure-sensitive adhesive of the pressure-sensitive adhesive portion 50 is 10 to 100 g/m 2 and preferably 20 to 50 g/m 2 . If the basis weight is less than 10 g/m 2 , the adhesive strength of the absorbent article 1 may end up weakening, the absorbent article 1 may end up not attaching to an undergarment such as underpants, the absorbent article 1 may end up falling or shifting during use, or may end up causing discomfort for the wearer.
  • the adhesive strength of the absorbent article 1 may end up being excessively strong, the absorbent article 1 may be torn when the absorbent article 1 is peeled from an undergarment such as underpants, or a portion of the absorbent article 1 may become attached to an undergarment such as underpants and be unable to be peeled off, thereby making this undesirable.
  • a band-shaped airlaid non-woven fabric 212 is fed from an airlaid non-woven fabric roller 210 on which is wound the airlaid non-woven fabric 212.
  • Crushed pulp 222 is fed from a crushed pulp supply device not shown to a pattern drum 220.
  • Indentations 224 are formed in a shape that packs the crushed pulp on the outer periphery of the pattern drum 220.
  • Suction 226 is generated within the pattern drum 220, and the crushed pulp 222 fed to the pattern drum 220 is suctioned into the indentations 224 and compressed.
  • a crushed pulp layer 228 formed within the indentations 224 is layered onto the airlaid non-woven fabric 212 and joined with a hot-melt pressure-sensitive material resulting in the production of an absorbent 232 composed of the airlaid non-woven fabric 212 and the crushed pulp layer 228.
  • the absorbent 232 is cut into individual absorbents 234 by making cuts to the front and back of the absorbent 232 with an absorbent front and back-cutting cutter 240.
  • Each of the absorbents 234 is covered with a top sheet 252 supplied from a top sheet roller 250, and the top sheet 252 is joined to the absorbent 234 by using a hot-melt adhesive.
  • side sheets 262 are fed from a side sheet roller 260 and arranged on both sides of the top sheet 252 so as to overlap with respective side portions of the top sheet 252.
  • the absorbent 234 is compressed in the thickness direction using an embossing device 270 to form a plurality of indentations extending from the top sheet 252 to inside the absorbent 234 and a plurality of indentations extending from the side sheets 262 to the absorbent 234 through the top sheet 252 in a laminate 236 comprised of the side sheet 262, the top sheet 252 and the absorbent 234.
  • the following provides an explanation of an upper roller 272 and a lower roller 274 of the embossing device 270 with reference to FIG. 4 .
  • pins 276 are provided on the upper roller 272 at locations corresponding to the indentations 60 and 70 (see FIG. 1 ) provided in the absorbent article 1.
  • the shape of the pins is flat with the exception of a conical tip.
  • projections 278 are provided on the tips of the pins 276 corresponding to the indentations 60 of the central portion of the absorbent article 1 in order to form the highly compressed portions 62 (see FIG. 2 ) of the indentations 60.
  • the diameter of the tips of the pins 276 is preferably within the range of 0.5 to 6.0 mm, and more preferably within the range of 1.0 to 2.5 mm in consideration of the balance between rigidity and flexibility of the absorbent article 1.
  • the laminate 236 is unable to be adequately compressed, while if the diameter is greater than 6.0 mm, the laminate 236 is compressed excessively, which may end up causing the laminate 236 to be excessively hard. As shown in FIG. 4(c) , projections such as pins are not formed on the lower roller 274.
  • a back sheet 282 fed from a back sheet roller 280 shown in FIG. 3 is adhered by overlapping the surface of the embossed laminate 236 on the side opposite from the top sheet side to form a continuum 238 of the absorbent article.
  • the continuum 238 of the absorbent article is cut into the shape of an absorbent article using a cutter 290 to produce the absorbent article 1.
  • the individual absorbents 234 are obtained by cutting the adsorbent 232 in the front and back with the absorbent front and back-cutting cutter 240 in the aforementioned steps.
  • individual absorbents may also be obtained as a result of cutting the continuum 238 of the absorbent article into the shape of absorbent articles by using the cutter 290 instead of using the absorbent front and back-cutting cutter 240.
  • the absorbent article 1 of an embodiment of the present invention as described above demonstrates one or more of the actions and effects indicated below.
  • the present invention encompasses the following absorbent article which is set out in clauses defining features of the invention.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Vascular Medicine (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Absorbent Articles And Supports Therefor (AREA)
EP11829403.2A 2010-09-30 2011-09-27 Absorbent article Not-in-force EP2621436B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2010223059A JP5618740B2 (ja) 2010-09-30 2010-09-30 吸収性物品
PCT/JP2011/072716 WO2012043851A1 (en) 2010-09-30 2011-09-27 Absorbent article

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2621436A1 EP2621436A1 (en) 2013-08-07
EP2621436A4 EP2621436A4 (en) 2014-10-08
EP2621436B1 true EP2621436B1 (en) 2016-12-07

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ID=45893283

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EP11829403.2A Not-in-force EP2621436B1 (en) 2010-09-30 2011-09-27 Absorbent article

Country Status (10)

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US (1) US9192527B2 (zh)
EP (1) EP2621436B1 (zh)
JP (1) JP5618740B2 (zh)
KR (1) KR101691987B1 (zh)
CN (1) CN103140196B (zh)
BR (1) BR112013005482A2 (zh)
MY (1) MY163378A (zh)
TW (1) TWI569782B (zh)
WO (1) WO2012043851A1 (zh)
ZA (1) ZA201301686B (zh)

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JP6219661B2 (ja) * 2013-10-07 2017-10-25 ユニ・チャーム株式会社 着用物品
JP5936652B2 (ja) * 2014-06-30 2016-06-22 ユニ・チャーム株式会社 吸収性物品
RU2017112525A (ru) 2014-11-06 2018-12-06 Дзе Проктер Энд Гэмбл Компани Абсорбирующие изделия, содержащие обращенные к одежде ламинаты
CN107106355B (zh) 2014-11-06 2020-11-03 宝洁公司 卷曲纤维纺粘非织造网/层压体
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CN108289763B (zh) * 2015-11-30 2022-02-22 金佰利（中国）有限公司 吸收芯层和含有此层的吸收性个人护理制品
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TWI569782B (zh) 2017-02-11
EP2621436A4 (en) 2014-10-08
KR101691987B1 (ko) 2017-01-02
JP2012075629A (ja) 2012-04-19
US20130184665A1 (en) 2013-07-18
EP2621436A1 (en) 2013-08-07
US9192527B2 (en) 2015-11-24
KR20130138794A (ko) 2013-12-19
CN103140196B (zh) 2015-02-11
CN103140196A (zh) 2013-06-05
BR112013005482A2 (pt) 2016-05-03
WO2012043851A1 (en) 2012-04-05
TW201228642A (en) 2012-07-16
MY163378A (en) 2017-09-15
JP5618740B2 (ja) 2014-11-05
ZA201301686B (en) 2014-04-30

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